, 1887-06-02
each to- morrow" inquired Mr.. Oil.

Lille won't take am stand at all" said
Mr.. Amos, ''says it's mono of his funeral
who they get. He's put out because they
wouldn't call that Mr.. Otjin; but we
never could have made that thing work"
"He preached good sermons, " said Nr.
GilSey, reflectively.
"He talked through his nose said
Mrs. GllSey, conclusively.
Then the Whites" said AIr. Ames.
"Theg want that eastern man, with the
long hair. Hes a sort of n cousin to
Whites wife. The West End ure all
united on that man from Washington.
And DR.. Glover's got a man down south
that he's trying to run in this long
time" M>. Ames paused for breath,
and Mrs, Glkey took up tho burden Of
his complaint. $500
yes" she said, "'nnd tho Georges say
they won't vote for anybody but that Mr..
Paine. from Ohio. LIE stayed with them
while he was here, and they say he Is
just as agreeable and entertaining as
can be. You'd never suspect he was q
minister. I" ,u on.
At this stage Mr.. Ames, happening to
look up suddenly, surprised an amused
smile on the face of the stranger VIC
shared his seat. .-al,
81 beg your pardon" said that gentle
man, in answer to Mr.. Amos stare, 81
could not help overhearing your CONVEX
sation." -f4g 1
No harm DONE" returned Mr.. Ames,
afTably. "We'ro pretty much interested
in getting the right sort of a man for our
church. We know what Keeps the thing
going, you see." He ratified, siGnih-
cantly, some coins in his pocket, and the
stranger intimated that he saw.
GSIgnit IL fha ronarol ppipiOp that ,,,aSr,
paying too steep a price for our preach
inS?' inquired Mr.. Gilkey.
Altogether" said Mr.. Ames, en-
phatically. "And 1 say we've just got
to drop off $500 OIL DUR next man. Why,
when l was q boy, q minister didn't get
over $500 or $500 n ycar, and they man
aged to live on it somehow. They didn't
throw their money around on nll sorts OF
e-xtrayagances, III be bound"
People say we have these things our.
selves" began Nr. Glkey, mildly.
81 don't care if we dol" retorted Mr..
Ames, Il earn my money, and l know
where it comes from"
Mr.. Ames had, by this time, worked
himself into quite q vehement state of
mind. BE ostensibly addressed Mr.. Gilkey;
but it Is not strange that the conscious
ness that the stranger was an interested
listener caused him to elaborate his argu-
ment with the, distinctness and precision
of one who feels that he is making q good
point. He now glanced for approval OF
his sentiments from Mr.. Gilkey to the
stranger, and the latter seemed encour-
aged to venture a remark.
What particular style Of man do you
desire for q pastor?" he inquired.
1--WE want a first class man." said Mr..
Ames, with the air of reciting q well
learned lesson. Some one who can hold
his own with the other ministers in the
place. Now, you see"-becoming conf
dential-''there's a certain set in our
church that are strong on doctrine, and
another class that don't care anything
about it, and won't hear it preached They
mostly don't belong to the church, but
they come regularly and rent our best
pews, and we feel bound to consider their
feelings. But it takes q man with some
tact to get along with these things and
not offend any one."
Indeed il must" said the stranger.
And Mrs. Gilkey said, in further illus
tration of tho point: why, we can never
keep n man more thar six months with.
out one set or the other getting down on
him. He's sure to DO in hot water N
where. Oh, 6earl why didn't you catch
thnt?"
This last exclamation was not ad-
dressed to tho stranger, but to Mr.. Gil
key. For in the excitement of the dis
cussion the'lady had loosened her hold
upon the handbook, and O sudden jolt Of
the cars had precipitated it into the aisle.
With tho aid of q fellow passenger and a
INT Mr.. Gilkey fished up the precious
parcel, and by the time this feat was nc
complished the train was moving slowly
into the Brandon station.
Mr.. Ames shook hands with the
stranger at parting and said he was glad
to have met him; after which ceremony
the travellers repaired to their several
destinations, Mrs. Gilkey with grave
forebodings lest the fall should have re-
suited disastrously to tho contents Of the
~bandbox; Mr.. Ames with n placid satis-
faction with himself and the world at
large, and the stranger-but as he is q
stranger we n guess with any ac-
curacy what his thoughts and feelings
were. .Err BOO
The church was filled that Sabbath
morning, and ar agreeable flutter of ex-
pectation pervaded the well dressed con-
gregation. Their fhces wore that wide
awake, alert expression Of persons who
expect to be entertained. ~
Mr.. Amos felt very tranquil in spirit
as he leisurcly assembled the church
steps, just in time for the opening an
them. AS he leaned back in his scat
and glanced over tho crowded house he
said to himself that he, for one, was
glad they were going to have a steady
pastor, and he was going to do his best
to encourage him. He'd get introduced
after service, and invite him up to dinner
tomorrow, he nudged his wife and
confided to her this resolve, and she said
twas '.just the thing"
He GRAINED his neck around to get a
sight of the new man, but the desk COM
pletely hid him from view as he sat in
the large pulpit chair, resting his head on
one shapely hand.
With the last notes Of the anthem,
Mrs. Gilkey sailed down the aisle in all
the glory of her new bonnet, while her
husband followed at q respectful distance
behind the swaying plumes and spread
ing brim. Mrs. Amcs WHISPERED to her
husband that 'twould be just like the
Gilkeys to try to get in ahead with the
minister, that woman was $50 pushing"
~ It